Motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle having at least one profiled tread with transverse profiling with segments in the form of cleats, transverse ribs or the like. The profiled tread consists of two partial profiles which are adjustable relative to one another in the running direction, whereby the vehicle has high cross-country capability, as well as great smoothness of operation when traveling over flat surfaces.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one profiledtread with transverse profiling, whose segments in the form of cleats,transverse ribs or the like are arranged with spacing in the runningdirection.

Motor vehicles having profiled treads, such as crawler or track-layingvehicles, are usable in many ways on account of their cross-countrycapability. Such profiled treads, however, have the disadvantage ofrough running when the vehicle is traveling over flat terrain. Aparticular disadvantage results when rounding curves or turning inplace, since the road surface is considerably damaged thereby. Similarproblems also occur in vehicles in which the profiled treads are formedby cleats on the running wheels.

It is the object of the invention to create a vehicle having greatcross-country capability, but at the same time being distinguished byvery smooth running on flat surfaces.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that theprofiled tread consists of two partial profiles which are adjustablerelative to one another in the running direction.

The division of the profiled tread into two partial profiles which areadjustable relative to one another in the direction of movement makes itpossible to dispose the segments of the two partial profiles such thatthe segments of the one partial profile are offset laterally, but aresituated at the intervals between the segments of the other partialprofile. The vehicle thus contacts the ground with the segments of bothpartial profiles.

The reduction to practice of the partial profiles can be accomplished ina variety of ways. For example, the partial profiles can be formed ontwo coaxial running wheels situated side by side. These two wheels, eachbearing one partial profile, can form the rear wheel, for example, of amotorcycle. It is also possible, however, to provide the partialprofiles on crawler or track-laying vehicles. In this case, the vehiclehas two crawler belts on each side, each provided with a partialprofile. Also, it is possible to form the partial profiles of oneprofiled tread of one wheel and one crawler belt.

In all applications, relatively smooth running will result when thepartial profiles are offset relative to one another, since then the gapsbetween the segments of the one partial profile are equalized by thesegments of the other partial profile. This smooth running results notonly in less vibration of the vehicle itself but also in a reduction ofnoise. On account of the better distribution of the load, negotiatingcurves and turning in place result in far less damage to the groundsurface by the vehicle.

If the profiled treads are offset such that the segments are situatedside by side, the vehicle has the cross-country capability of otherknown vehicles of its kind.

It is desirable that the segments of one profiled tread be adjustable byat least half of the mean distance between two successive segments, sothat the segments of the one partial profile can be set to the centerbetween the segments of the other partial profile. The gap between thesegments should be of approximately the same size and shape as thesegments themselves.

The invention will be explained below by way of example, with the aid ofFIGS. 1 to 8, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 4 are elevations of a pair of running wheels of one side of avehicle, each wheel having a partial profile of a profiled tread, asseen from the front and from the side,

FIGS. 5 to 8 are similar representations of a pair of running wheels onone side of a vehicle over which wheels runs a crawler belt and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate further embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the construction of a profile tread on two coaxialrunning wheels 13 of a vehicle V. Each running wheel 13 has a partialprofile 11. The two partial profiles of the running wheels together forma profiled tread. The wheels are rotatable relative to one another andthus the partial profiles are adjustable relative to one another. Thepartial profiles consist of segments or cleats 12 whose spacing isapproximately equal to the width of the cleats. The gaps between thecleats are of a shape complementary to that of the cleats. In FIGS. 1and 2 is shown the wheel working position in which a vehicle V equippedwith such wheels, e.g., a motorcycle whose rear wheel has these twowheels, runs on flat ground. In this case the cleats 12 are offset fromone another such that the cleats of the one partial profile are situatedat the gaps between the cleats of the other partial profile. Thus thetwo wheels come in contact with the ground fully at their cleats andpartially at the gaps between the cleats.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the working position for cross-country travel, inwhich the cleats and the interstices between them are in line with oneanother.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show the configuration of the partial profiles 11 of atread on crawler belts which are guided over two rear and two frontrunning wheels.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the working position of the crawler belts, which aredisplaceable relative to one another, for travel over a flat groundsurface. The front wheels of the vehicle V' are raised upwardly by therotation about the rear axle A, so that conditions with regard to thebearing surface are similar to those of the cleated wheels in FIGS. 1and 2, i.e., that a crawler vehicle V' equipped with such crawler beltscan run like a vehicle provided with normal wheels. In this case, ofcourse, at least one additional wheel, not shown, by which the vehicleis also supported on the ground, is required for steering. In comparisonwith normal crawler vehicles, the advantage is thereby obtained thatdamage to the surface of the ground can be kept low on account of thefavorable load distribution.

FIGS. 7 and 8 again show the working position in which the vehicle runscross-country, i.e., the profile segments or cleats 12 of the crawlerbelts as well as the interstices between them are aligned with oneanother. The truck, in this working position, is rotated back to thenormal horizontal position. The wheel by which the vehicle is steered,and which is not shown, can also lie on the ground or be raised up fromit.

FIG. 9 shows a three-wheeled motor truck, two running wheels 13 of whichhave partial profiles as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 10 shows a vehicle with a wheel 13 and a crawler belt 11, eachhaving a partial profile 12.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crawler vehicle having two sides, two crawlerbelts on each side of the vehicle, each crawler belt having a profiledtread with transverse profiling having segments in the form of cleats,transverse ribs or the like, said segments being arranged in spacedrelationship in the running direction of the respective belt, eachprofiled tread comprising two partial profiles which are adjustablerelative to one another in the running direction.
 2. A vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein the crawler belts are guided over at least tworunning wheels.
 3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the partialprofiles are adjustable by at least half the distance between centers oftwo successive segments.
 4. A vehicle according to claim 3, comprisingfront and rear wheels, the front wheels being adjustable in elevation.5. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein at least part of the vehicleis tiltable about an axle of the vehicle.
 6. A vehicle according toclaim 3, wherein the segments of the partial profiles are spaced fromeach other by an amount approximately equal to the width of thesegments.
 7. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein gaps between thesegments are complementary in shape to the segments.
 8. A vehicle havingtwo sides, a wheel and a crawler belt on each side of the vehicle, eachwheel and each crawler belt having a profiled tread with transverseprofiling having segments in the form of cleats, transverse ribs or thelike, said segments being arranged in spaced relationship in the runningdirection of the respective wheel and belt, each profiled treadcomprising two partial profiles which are adjustable relative to oneanother in the running direction.
 9. A vehicle having two wheels, eachwheel having a profiled tread with transverse profiling, having segmentsin the form of cleats, transverse ribs, or the like, said segments beingarranged in spaced relationship in the running direction of therespective wheel, each profiled tread comprising two partial profileswhich are adjustable relative to one another in the running direction,the partial profiles being formed on coaxial running wheels.
 10. Avehicle having two wheels, each wheel having a profiled tread withtransverse profiling, having segments in the form of cleats, transverseribs, or the like, said segments being arranged in spaced relationshipin the running direction of the respective wheel, each profiled treadcomprising two partial profiles which are adjustable relative to oneanother in the running direction, said wheels each having said partialprofile being disposed in the rear of the vehicle.
 11. A vehicle havinga three-wheeled motor truck with two wheels, each wheel having aprofiled tread with transverse profiling, having segments in the form ofcleats, transverse ribs, or the like, said segments being arranged inspaced relationship in the running direction of the respective wheel,each profiled tread comprising two partial profiles which are adjustablerelative to one another in the running direction, said wheels eachhaving a partial profile being disposed on each side of the vehicle.